Really enjoyed our visit with 4 kids under age 12 in tow... Even though we didn't score one of the 1,300 tickets they have at the beginning of the day at 7 am, we still had a memorable experience. Tips: - On our drive over, I googled "Pearl Harbor Trivia," and we learned a lot. Something about having other kids in the car and the competition :). - Don't bring your purse and other carry type things (or you'll have to check it into a locker, which seems like a pain). - If you have kids, stop at the gift shop when you enter on the left and pay the $3 Jr Ranger Scavenger Hunt booklet package. Totally worth it, as it engages them to learn. - The museum itself and experience is free. - Clean bathrooms - Under $5 for the virtual reality thing, which the boys really liked. Some of us got a little dizzy, but overall, it was a fun experience (you can purchase the experience when you enter to the right). Even if you don't score tickets to take the ferry closer to the USS Arizona, GO! FREEDOM is not free. Thank you to those who have given their lives so we can live ours. read more

This was such a great experience . When we went off to the boat and they explained how some of the bodies were never found and stayed in the sea, i got the chills. My husband and I were very emotional and it was such a great experience . We plan to go back this summer coming up. We also got to meet a veteran who was a soldier around that time. Overall, it was a great experience. read more

As a retired military personal, I was so excited to visit Pearl Harbor for the first time. Let me start, this is an all day experience. Do not try to do this in 2 to 4 hours. I bought tickets to USS Missouri, Aircraft museum andUSS bowfin. After three hours, we still didn't make it to the aircraft museum. It was not very crowded at 1pm, which was good. Very beautiful and memorable moment! read more

They do not allow you to bring purses or bags inside PH so make sure to leave those in the car. Strollers and fanny packs are okay. There is a lot to do there, but I think the way they have it set up, it's hard to really figure out what there is to do. An example is, if you want tickets to the USS Arizona then you go wait at one line. If you want to buy a ticket to board the bowfin you need to go in a separate line. I wish they just serviced everything at one station. You may want to consider buying a tour package from a third party to help you figure it out. Also, the instructions for what to do with the USS Arizona tickets aren't that clear. You will need to head to the theatre next to the museum ten minutes prior to your departure time. I didn't know this, so when I went to the theatre to ask when the next showing was the woman there laughed at me and then explained this is for the USS Arizona boat ride. read more

Was told by a local that Pearl Harbor offers a nice free tour of the USS Arizona so I decided to check it out. I believe there are a number of tickets available everyday on a first come first serve basis, but I didn't want to bother with the hassle so I reserved online for $1.50 service fee per person and picked up my tickets when I got there. We watched a short but very informative movie about Pearl Harbor, and then went on a boat ride to take a look at the USS Arizona. All the employees gave great insight into the history of the place. For being a free activity I thought this was awesome and I'm glad someone recommended this to me! read more

Ever since I watched the movie Pearl Harbor, I've always wanted to come here. I think this is a must visit spot for everyone to at least learn the history and respect those lives lost in the tragedy. The parking is easy and free. There was also no entry fee unless you want to book tour or go into museum. It is also a great place for photo if you want a great view with harbor. Also the Navy does not allow any type of bags so do not bring huge backpacks or purses. Overall I would highly recommend first time tourist to come here, learn the history, show appreciation to those hero who suffered from the tragedy and enjoy the moment of peacefullness. read more

Pearl Harbor - Visitor Centers Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

The Pearl Harbor Visitor Center is your gateway to the historic sites of Pearl Harbor which are the USS Arizona, the Battleship Missouri Memorial, the USS Bowfin Subamarine Museum & Park, and the Pacific Aviation Museum. All of these are tremendous historical sites and information packed. Except for the Arizona, which is free, each site has separate entry fees, so depending on how much time you allotted for your trip to Pearl Harbor, you can visit as many of these sites as you want. To me, you have to make time for the USS Arizona because it will be a memorable visit honoring our fallen and can be a life changing experience for some. Once you've dropped off any large bags to the right of the entrance, and have made it through security, you will see two main lines. If you haven't reserved your tickets for the Arizona at recreation.gov, you can jump in one of the lines for one of the 1,300 walk-in tickets. If you've got your ticket, you can stand in the other line for tickets to the other sites. Don't hesitate to ask any of the employees standing outside or any of the ticket sales agents for help, they will steer you in the right direction. Almost everything is to the right of the ticket lines after you've purchased: the USS Bowfin and museum, a food area, and the shuttle to the USS Missouri and the Pacific Aviation Museum. The theaters and the navy boat to the Arizona are to the left. Tickets for the Missouri and Aviation Museum are around $25, and tickets for the Bowfin and Museum are $12. Everything is well organized and the employees will always assist you, but it doesn't hurt to do a little research before you go, especially if you're under time constraints, so you won't be wandering around wasting time. Unfortunately, they were doing construction to the dock to the USS Arizona on the day we went and boats were just sailing around the memorial. We still had a good view of the memorial from the visitor center, but I promised my wife that we'll be back some day to pay our respects. read more

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Emotional visit :( January 5, 2016 Woke up early to line up for free tickets to visit the USS Arizona Memorial. The free tickets got us in the Arizona Memorial program which is the 25 minute film in the amphitheatre about the attack, the Navy shuttle boat ride to the Arizona Memorial, and time aboard the USS Arizona Memorial. These tickets are also included in all of the other Pearl Harbor paid tours which we didn't do. Glad that we were able to make it here early. We got our free tickets at the walk-up window, the line was long but went quickly. By the way, there are over 2,000 free tickets given out each day on a first come, first served basis. these are limited tickets reserved for walk up guests and usually runs out early. Visitor Center opens at 7:00a. It is my second visit to the Pearl Harbor and each visit always felt sadness of this devastating surprise attack that killed 2,403 and wounded over 1,000. It marked USA's entrance into WWII. I never get tired of listening about the history. I get emotional just watching the short film as it goes through the sequence of events and how the war with Japan began. Japan launched a surprise attack on American soil at Pearl Harbor. When you get to the Arizona Memorial the boat will dock at the entry, then you can walk around, take pictures and/or talk to docents at the assembly room, and at the end is the shrine which you'll see the names of the sailors and Marines engraved on a huge wall/mural. Oil leaking from the sunken battleship can still be seen rising from the wreckage to the surface of the water... so sad, the docent said that it will be there for a long time and called it 'Tears of Arizona'. From a distance you can also see the USS Missouri which was a symbol of the end of the war, the Japanese surrendered to U.S. General Douglas MacArthur and Admiral Nimitz. The two ships became a symbol of the beginning and end of the U.S. participation in the WW2. On a side note, on May 2012, I had a chance to visit Manzanar National Historic Site in Independence CA and it would be the most widely known as the site of one of ten camps where over 110,000 Japanese Americans were imprisoned during World War II. My review http://www.yelp.com/biz/manzanar-national-historic-site-independence?hrid=dGErYslxKZKGSMAs9ntcWg&utm_source=ishare I was able to get my National Parks Passport stamped from these two historic places. Love history! Review #0426 read more

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Pearl Harbor is a beautiful place to look at, but it's eerie to think that hundreds of people died here on December 7, 1941. It's amazing to think how time can change the damages the past has made. Today, Pearl Harbor stands so beautiful surrounded by water so clear you can see the ocean floor. War is so evil, it destroys humanity only to be replaced with love and peace after time have passed. The tour to USS Arizona includes a short film and a tour, the film will show how the Pearl Harbor was attacked by the Japanese Empire. It touched my heart knowing there a lot of Americans died. It was a moving experience. After the film there will be a tour boat that will take you to the USS Arizona. Just a reminder : bags or backpacks are not allowed inside. read more

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Review #025 - 2016 We've visited Pearl Harbor a few times, but never actually did the tour. My little family can't sit still for too long... There's really not much that I can say about our experiences since we only go there to take pictures and browse for about half an hour to hour and then leave. It's one of those landmarks that one should definitely come to see when you're in Oahu. If anything, you can read the history and see what everything looks like from your own perspective. If I remember correctly, parking and entrance is free so you don't have to spend any money just to enjoy the view... They don't allow any backpacks or purses so you are better off not bringing them with you. read more

How do I give 5+ stars to this Memorial? It's utterly amazing, heartfelt, breathtaking and humbling all at the same time. Such a mix of emotions is felt right when you step foot onto the parking lot. Most already have an idea or have heard about the events that led up to the attack of Pearl Harbor, especially with a movie out. However, Hollywood has a reputation for romanticizing almost everything, literally, so it's nice to know how things really panned out when facts come first. First of all, backpacks, fanny packs, purses, anything that can be used for concealment - are not allowed on the memorial. If you so happen to have one of those listed with you, there is a baggage check to the right if you don't want to walk back to your car. General admission to the memorial is free. There are scheduled boarding times printed onto your ticket as you are instructed to a theater and shown a 20minute documentary highlighting the moments of the event before you go off to board a passenger boat that heads to the actual USS Arizona Memorial which marks the spot of the battleship. You can also purchase tickets to visit other attractions. There is a gift shop, snack shop as well. During our visit, we were fortunate to have met one of the eight survivors of Pearl Harbor: Uncle Herb Weatherwax. What an absolute honor. Visit this memorial. Pay homage to those who paved our way. You'll find it to be such a memorable experience in so many ways. read more

Pearl Harbor - USS Arizona Memorial - Visitor Centers Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Pearl Harbor was our number one priority to see while visiting the island. We were there the week of the anniversary. It wasn't too busy like we thought it would be. 6:30am is plenty early to arrive for the first tour tickets of the USS Arizona. Combo packs are sold here for the memorial, sub and battleships tours. They open at 7am for the free tickets of the Arizona. Once your tickets are in hand, you can grab a snack, coffee or use the restroom before the first tour at 7:30. The coffee sold here is a cup made from a Keurig. It's small cup for $2.50 but they have several flavors on hand. The center has several displays you can walk through. The grounds along the back face the military base across the way. You can see the battleships and memorials from this point. The tours all leave and come back to this center. There are bag restrictions upon entering. Camera bags, diaper bags and purses are not allowed. There are lockers available to the right of the entrance in a small building. Make this a priority to see and honor those heroes past, present and future of this great country. read more

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I think it is everyone's patriotic duty to visit Pearl Harbor weather your American or not. This place has a lot of interesting history and information to not miss. My husband and I got a guided tour that began at 8 AM and went through till 2 or 3 PM. Pearl Harbor has the historic sites of USS Arizona, Battleship Missouri Memorial, USS Bowfin Submarine and the Pacific Aviation Museum. I took many pictures although mine did not show up at the end of my trip. Some people I've talked to believe its the ghosts of USS Arizona others say it is technological issues. The mystery continues to know where those photos went. No large bags are allowed when you enter the visitor center, you can have cash, your ID and a phone. You'll need the cash if you want to eat a snack, enter the USS Bowfin Submarine or the Pacific Aviation Museum. If your on the guided tour you get like 20 minutes to explore the areas before you see a video describing what happened on December 7, 1947. From there you get on a boat and go to the USS Arizona and really take the time to respect those who had fallen and the big wall will all their names written on it. You can still see oil that is leaking from the USS Arizona because they left parts of it there for you to see what was left after it had been bombed. I saw a girl bring a lay and throw flowers out on the harbor in honor of those whom had fallen. The day I was there, a 99 year old vet was signing autographs. I wish I had the time to get in line and thank him for his service. Although I was pretty rushed that day and had to leave quickly for Battleship Missouri. If you really want to explore a historical landmark visit Pearl Harbor. Honor the heroes who tried to protect our country for freedom! read more

Lay on a beach...Visit Pearl Harbor...Lay on a beach...Visit Pearl Harbor It took 4 years of annual visits to Oahu before I decided to get off the beach and visit Pearl Harbor. It makes a great year 4 activity and I've no regrets about waiting this long to visit. It's equivalent to any good museum and improved by the fact that it's right there where everything occurred so, visually, it makes things easy to picture. If you decide to come, here's what I think is worth knowing: * To park and enter Pearl Harbor costs nothing. There's plenty to see right there, for free, including two high quality museums, a walk of remembrance, a 23-minute documentary, and a Navy boat trip out to view the USS Arizona Memorial. All are free but you must hold an admission ticket. * The web site link listed here on Yelp is one which sells tickets to tours of the various things to see and do. It's not the site to get your advance free ticket to the things listed above. That site is http://www.nps.gov/valr/planyourvisit/fees.htm. * Tickets for afternoon visits to the USS Arizona Memorial (which requires a short ride on a Navy boat) are frequently canceled due to wind. There weren't even white caps in the harbor but my 2:30 ride was canceled. * For the greatest likelihood of actually getting to visit the USS Arizona Memorial, advance book your free tickets (or arrive) in the morning. I was told that free tickets are plentiful and that the morning ride is rarely canceled. * There are many other things to see here (e.g. Bowfin Submarine) to which admission is not free. Most people have limited attention spans; I'd recommend you try to visit these things on a visit separate from the free stuff. * The free attractions (which is all I saw) wouldn't be interesting to young children. For them I'd suggest you purchase tickets to the Bowfin. read more

This is the stopping ground before you go see the other memorials around like the USS Missouri, USS Arizona and there was another ship located here that we didn't visit. Here's what I must complain about. I know that security is of up most importance since 9/11. Its important to me as well. Money is tight and they obviously cant secure every person or thing that comes through the gate. I and our entire tour was completely blindsided with not being able to take bags into Pearl Harbor. No Camera Bags, No Purses, No Fanny Packs, No Shopping Bags, nothing. I was wearing a skirt with no pockets. I had to pack my bra with my ID, Debit Card, Chapstick and other misc. items that could fit. You could carry your camera on a strap around your neck too. Its incredibly inconvenient and I saw a few families with small children that look completely miserable. They could only bring in strollers and visible items. So my main message here is: DON'T BRING SMALL CHILDREN ON THIS TOUR. DON'T DO IT!!!! Keep the kids to like 8 years old and up. No infants and toddlers. I left mine back a the hotel with daddy. Best decision Ive made in a long time. Anyway, back to the memorial. You can take the Walk to Remember. Its a self paced walk around the grounds giving misc. history of the happenings at this historic site. I didn't walk it because I'm pregnant and I was not feeling it at that moment. There are two small museums that I did go take a look at. It was very interesting to see what was going on during that time on the Japanese side of the war and what they were prepping for. A side you don't regularly get to see or hear about. There is a small store with snacks and other misc. items. I was very hungry and I thought there was an actual cafe on site. I couldn't find it because I must be a complete idiot. So I bought a small cut fruit platter with caramel and drink in the little store. As I was eating it I see a lady walk by with a Hot Dog with Mustard. Where the hell are the Hot Dogs at?! This is also the area where you go to a theater and watch a movie about what led up to the bombing of Pearl Harbor. You know the story by now but to sit there and see it and see the places in a black and white film that you are currently standing on is just awe inspiring. We should never forget about these things. After the movie you go out one side and get on a boat that is piloted by Navy crew men that takes you across the bay to the actually USS Arizona Memorial. (Review to follow). After you visit the USS Arizona you get back on a boat and they take you back here. I may not have been happy with the food or the bag situation but this is a very important place. Just don't bring kids or any excess baggage. read more

Pearl Harbor - Visitor Centers Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

What a good way to respect the USS Arizona. From the film that you watch, to the boat ride, to the unique white memorial. Today there was one of five veterans that are still alive from USS Arizona in attendance. It made the experience that much better to see him there. read more

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Pretty incredible historic place to visit and experience an important piece of American history for yourself. The grounds are quite well-kept and the exhibits are memorable. Go early for your tickets or you'll be stranded there for hours like we were, waiting for our turn to go to the USS Arizona Memorial. Instead, we asked around and figured out we could go have lunch and shop a bit at a nearby mall and pass the time and then come back for the USS Arizona Memorial when it was our time since we had already looked at most everything on the grounds after about an hour. The "movie" that you watch prior to visiting the USS Arizona Memorial is powerful and well done. It was really sad to see what was left of the USS Arizona after Pearl Harbor was attacked and to think of all the lives lost. Take a moment to appreciate the sacrifices made by the soldiers even if you don't agree with wars, appreciate the men and women who fought for us. read more

There are some true professionals working at Pearl Harbor. We went to take a trip to the Arizona Memorial because my husband had never been. We also brought along our 4 month old and, as it was a hot day, we only did the memorial so she was not out in the sun too long. First off, with a baby, we usually carry a diaper bag. I had read ahead and knew we could only bring clear bags but brought the reusable changing pad that has some diapers and wipes in it and a bottle. The man who was at the front recognized what it was immediately and, after checking it thoroughly, let us take it through. When we got to the boat that took us to the memorial, the man who was going over the rules was very clear but, they once again made an exception to the no food or drink policy, allowing us on with her formula. The fact that they made these common sense accommodations made the trip easy and memorable in a positive way. The memorial itself is heartbreaking and beautiful. I am a huge fan of history and it was a moving experience to stand in a place where history was made. They had an interpreter on the memorial itself to explain the memorial and give details about the event. We only spent about 20 minutes on the memorial but it was enough time to see everything and not too much time to get bored. The naval personnel who ferried us to send from the memorial did so with precision and professionalism. I was dismayed to see some people not showing, admittedly in my opinion, proper respect on the memorial itself but that it not a fault of the staff as it was not egregious enough to say something. Overall. This place is one of those memorials that I truly believe everyone should visit if they are able. read more

US history and tourist site. . Seem a little pricey, but I'm cheap. Tours may require reservations read more

Deservedly so, this is a must if you stopover to Oahu. A lot of money has been put into this region for restoration in memorization on the attack. Back on our Hawaii trip, this was our first tourist stop. Being super carefree, Bun and I didn't bother looking at the forecast that morning. We were on vacation. Who cares we thought. Starting in the morning the gloomy waters set up a serene backdrop. I drove up into the limited parking lot in front where a line formed at the entrance waiting to get in. The gates finally opened and the line trickled in towards the ticket booth. We got our (FREE!) tickets for the U.S.S. Arizona only. As we waited for our time slot there are numerous stations of memorial outside. Separate placards signifying of lives lost, historical scenes, and locations of where things were within the port. It was really detailed stuff. Rain slowly started. Uh oh...I thought. Both of us weren't dressed for rain. We ran towards refuge inside. There you'll found various media on the cultures of Hawaii and Japan before the attack and the mindsets of survivors in those times. There were movie commentaries and the attacks leading up Pearl Harbor, various gadgets, relics, and remnants from the events of Pearl Harbor. With all the multimedia, they really keep the visitors engaged. Finally it was our turn our turn to head over to see the U.S.S. Arizona. Boarding the boat that would head to the U.S.S. Arizona, the down pour of rain was insane at this point. A few of us in the crowd almost slipped on the ramp. On arrival Bun and I scoured to a crevice to avoid the rain. The guides pushed through the rain answering questions for the guests. The most revered part is the enshrined names memorialized in the back. The rain actually stopped for five minutes. I'm sure it was all pure coincidence. Back to the boat we went. Riding back I was thinking, wow, besides how incredibly soaked my underwear was, I can't believe how many history lessons we learned from just one trip. Finally setting foot back on land, Bun and I ran towards cover. We took a quick break to watch the rain. Now there was an abundance of umbrellas and ponchos in the foreground. One more glance and we said our farewell to Pearl Harbor until next time. Smonkey's Tip: Get there early. No joke. I hear they're limited per day on time slots of the U.S.S. Arizona. read more

Amazing experience. I feel like every American should be required to go to renew his/her understanding of the value of life, honor and sacrifice. I'm so very glad I went. read more

Pearl Harbor - Visitor Centers Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

I highly recommend booking your tickets ahead of time for the boat to take you to the USS Arizona memorial. When I tried to do it online a few days before our visit during the week of Christmas/New Years eve, the tickets were all sold out. Thankfully they had tickets available for walk-ins when we arrived. However, we arrived at 10:30am and the only tickets they had available were for 1:15pm. (tickets are in 15 minute increments). We drove in at around 10:30am and by that time, there was only three parking spots open in the second parking lot (their overflow parking lot). I highly recommend coming here early if you can to avoid parking issues. Parking was free. The memorial is beautiful and very serene. I really appreciate the staff asking the public to be respectful to those buried here by keeping conversations quiet. It is a sad reminder that this is not only a historic site but also a cemetery where people are still buried here in the water. read more

Incredible visit. We're happy we got to see this historic venue. We came out of there with more love for our wonderful country. We learned a lot about the Japanese and also how the damage war can cause for every nation. We recommend everyone to come visit. Take a tour and visit the SS Arizona and a submarine. 5/5 fun and educational visit. read more

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Came to visit this tourist location with my bf. We were not able to get off the boat due to safety reasons. But to be on this trip was such an experience. The stories, the movies, were all very emotional and definitely showed an unbiased view of the event itself. I enjoyed the ferry out to the water, and the narration on the ferry. You can line up and wait in the morning as they give away 2k tickets for free, or you can make a reservation by paying $1 or $2 in advance. There's plenty of tickets that are independent or packages to look at the other parts of the location. Parking was easy to find. Would recommend this if you are in the area as it's a big part of our history. read more

Can anyone give this place less than five stars? I mean, it's sad. the whole deal of it. However, among tragedy comes jubilation. Many Historians (especially from ucla) will argue, the travesty that occured on december 7, 1941 was the genesis of American superiority (which the last two admins have destroyed). Without Pearl Harbor, our military and technology would be who knows where? As for the museum, the thought of it being more of a mausoleum is sad. To think, how many people will never leave their tombs as the oil continues to seep out of the engine room. I like how everything is set up in an orderly fashion. You have active and retired military personnel keeping an eye out for us. Who would of thought, in the middle of paradisium, a tomb would be the central attraction? I love visitiing here and can not wait to come back again and give homage to brave souls that fell victim to such heinous acts of aggression. read more

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Must see for any visitor and local. This site holds so much history. The tour was very informative and self guiding through the submarines was extremely nice as you can go at your own pace and really soak up the knowledge. read more

This is a must see for most people, but I would caution those with young children (under 8 years old). I highly, highly, highly recommend that you make reservations throught the official US government website (www.recreation.gov). The fee was $1.50 per person (without the audio tour, that was $7.50 more per person) (in 2012) and you are reserved for your entry time, rather than first come, first serve. Our reservations were for 10:00, and we arrived an hour early as requested by the ticket. At that time, there was plenty of parking, but it was filling up fast. The parking lot is free, but not large. Before entering, you need to check in all bags for a fee of $3/bag. (BTW, there have been cars broken into in the parking lot because thieves watch which groups put purses, cameras, computers, etc. in the trunk before going to the Memorial. - Paying the $3 to have your bags watched by the staff, who have all of their actions watched and recorded on videotape is probably safer than leaving it in your car or at least put everything in the trunk before arriving at the parking lot where thieves could be watching you.) No bags are allowed in, not even diaper bags or small purses. I tried to take in a plastic disposable grocery bag with one diaper and a few wipes, but was stopped. We stuffed the diaper and a small package of wipes into our pockets and that was allowed. If you don't have big enough pockets, you can carry a few diapers and wipes into the staging area then buy something cheap from the gift shop (they provide shopping bags). When we arrived, the next entry for walk-ins was at 2:30. Note: If you don't make a reservation ahead of time, I've heard that going later in the day can be less busy than in the morning. The grounds are beautiful and offer great displays while you wait for your entry time and there is a small museum. They have a small snack bar that sells sandwiches, snacks, and drinks as well as the gift shop and museum. The time passes quickly and there is plenty to look at before your movie time. Before getting on to the boat to go to the USS Arizona Memorial, you will watch a 22 minute movie (it's mandatory). You must see the movie and the movie can be upsetting for young children. It shows explosions, dead bodies, and is very moving, but can be too much for little ones. Each group gets 15 minutes on the Memorial before the next boat with visitors arrive. read more

The experience is touching. When I visited with my husband there was a Pearl Harbor survivor present with us on the ride over to the memorial. He received a salute from the Navy crewmen as he disembarked the shuttle boat. It helped to remind all of us on the boat that this was not only a geopolitical event that precipitated America's entry into WWII, but it was a harrowing and traumatic event for all those who lived through it. I believe that the National Parks Service did a good job with the museum installations and the film at trying to put the events of that day into context. They also attempted to show the impact the attack had on survivors and witnesses (both military and civilian). There are a few tips to maximize your time and experience at the memorial: When you sit in the theater for the film, sit close to the exit doors (front right or rear right of the theater). This will give you access to the shuttle boat sooner. Having earlier access to the boat will enable you to select a seat in the center of the boat to avoid any spray on the journey. If you don't mind getting a little spray, then it will give you the ability to sit closer to the exit of the boat. Once off the boat, head straight to the back of the memorial to have a moment viewing the memorial wall before everyone else on your boat comes flooding in. Don't stop to look at the sunken USS Arizona over the sides of the memorial until after you have visited the memorial wall for that one peaceful and reflective moment. Then, once the rest of your boat floods into the room and starts taking pictures and talking (often ruining the somber reflection), then you can go to peer over the sides and watch the oil escape the USS Arizona and spread on the surface. read more

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Pearl Harbor had such an peaceful yet very strange feeling while you're there. It feels like the souls that were lost there still walk amongst you. None the less, it was a very educational and beautiful experience. If you're visiting Honolulu, you have to visit Pearl Harbor and pay your respects for the men and women who gave their life to fight for this country. read more

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My husband is more into active activities and less educational ones like museums. We loved how this place had different options for ticket prices. We only did the free option here. That involved sitting in a theater and watching a twenty min clip about Pearl Harbor. It was such a good review of that day not only for someone who learned about this back in middle school fifteen years ago but also for my Canadian husband who knew very little about the day. After the show, you get on a ferry and they tour you around the harbor where you see the memorial and ships and the docking posts for the other ships. I would have wanted to hang out and learn some more, but my husband was bored, and made us leave early. We got there at about 9am on a Friday and we were able to find parking. Unless you have a REALLY small purse or a see-through bag, LEAVE YOUR PURSE/BAG IN THE CAR. If you don't have a car, you'll have to rent a locker. read more

This is a must see. It's so important to visit plz Ed like this and truly understand what happened and how many people were affected

I'm glad that we made time to come visit and it's free, it's a national park, it's part of history and heritage. I was fortunate enough to visit before the dock broke but beyond that the site did a good job of going over what happened that day beyond 'Battleship Row.' There's something of value when you get to see for yourself where things happened that you've read in books. read more

One of the historic landmarks of the world. Everybody knows the story behind Pearl Harbor. For those history and movie fans, this place is a must visit. Plenty of free parking and things to see/watch/hear. Some of the items of course you have to pay to see, but its worth it. Definitely worth a visit - one time. read more

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The minute we booked our tickets to Oahu, my hubby immediately said we had to see Pearl Harbor. I would agree that the war memorial is a must-see for first-time visitors to Hawaii, veterans, and history buffs. Since we were in Waikiki for Fourth of July weekend, we knew it would be sold out and busy. We decided to book a charter tour so we'd have transportation and guaranteed tickets. We happened to be in Honolulu during RIMPAC, an international war exercise, so it was a treat to see American ships and ships from other countries getting prepared for the day's events. I last visited Pearl Harbor when I was 10 years old. I had vague memories of the beautiful building on the water over the sunken ship. I was not prepared for how emotional the trip would be. The film is detailed and at times graphic in its depiction of the battle. The boat tour was quick but somber. The memorial is stunning. Even with dozens of people around you, it is moving. Tips for visitors: Book tickets in advance! We chatted with a family at our hotel about how they arrived early, as many Yelpers suggest, and waited from 7am to 2pm, only to be told they would not get in. No large bags allowed. Grab some cash, your ID, and your phone. Leave the bag in the trunk of your rental or back at the hotel if possible. Otherwise you'll have to pay for bag check and wait in those lines. Eat before you visit. The snack shop leaves a lot to be desired, High prices and poor selection. The cashier was nice though. read more

Pearl Harbor is a must if you visit Oahu. I suggest getting there early to get your free tickets to take the ferry to the USS Arizona. They give out the tour tickets for every 15 minutes and they are first come-first serve. If you get there later, you might have to wait hours to get on the ferry. We got there before it opened and there was already a long line to get into Pearl Harbor. The parking is easy. Once it opens, you get in fast. When you walk in, you will get the chills. It's a beautiful place with a lot of history to learn about. The trip to the USS Arizona is pretty easy. You hop on the ferry, get off and look at the monument, then hop back on the ferry to go back. It's gorgeous inside and worth the wait. It only takes about a half day to do Pearl Harbor and it's something that you should do, even if you don't think you would be interested in it. read more

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Great place for history. A bit tough during covid as there are no more walk up tickets for the boat ride to the memorial or the 20 minute theater showing documentary. But they do have a stand by line in case of no shows. We got there around 7am and were lucky to get on the 9:30 boat. They also run the documentary on TVs outside. read more

Watch out for the security nazi at the gate. Even if you have a small bag that is of the size allowed, if you are not lucky, or if the security guard wants to make an example out of you, he will not let you pass - and will make you check in the empty tiny bag (that fit in a clear sandwich bag - yes I had a ziplock and put it in there - that's how small it was) and make you pay the $5 locker fee. Once I got in, I clearly saw people with bigger bags than I had. (Attached is a picture of the items in my bag and the ziplock that it fit in) read more

Pearl Harbor - My bag was made from thin polyester material and fit inside this sandwich ziplock bag with the contents shown. - Visitor Centers Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Sobering and Educational Experience First, a clarification: The World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument is the Gateway to the USS Arizona Memorial. The USS Arizona Memorial can only be accessed from a boat operated by the Navy. You need tickets to gain access to the USS Arizona Memorial and view the 20 minute film documenting the events leading up to the attack, as well as original footage from the attack on Pearl Harbor. These tickets are free, and can be reserved on-line. While this sounds great, I found all of the tickets had already been claimed on the Park's website. A small number of tickets are given out each morning. The office opens at 7:00 AM, but an employee recommended that we arrive at 6:00 AM to get in line. The tickets assign a time to view the film. Directly after, the audience boards a boat to the USS Arizona Memorial. If you are not able to visit the USS Arizona Memorial, there is still plenty to experience at the WWII Valor in the Pacific National Monument. There are two museums, one documenting the world events leading up to the Japanese attack on O'ahu, and a second museum focusing on the attack itself. The description of the events leading up to the attack, not always discussed in detail, was very helpful in understanding the event as a whole. There is an outdoor walking path, with markers and memorials along the way. An audio guide and map is offered in many languages ($7.50), and provides a suggested route to best experience the Monument. Included in the audio guide, personal accounts from veterans and residents bring the story to life. I found this to be very helpful, as the amount of information displayed could be overwhelming. The USS Bowfin Submarine and departing buses for the USS Missouri are also located inside the Park. Both of these can be explored for an additional fee. Planning ahead is key, as combination tickets can be purchased that include access to all of the sites for either one or two days. Please note that no backpacks, camera bags or purses are allowed in the Monument area. Lockers are provided outside the gate for $3.00, which is recommended instead of keeping valuables in cars as there have been some break-ins. read more

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You don't truly grasp the significance of Pearl Harbor in our country's history until you visit here and take in the sights, displays, and exhibits. You can't help but feel moved and emotional after learning many details about the attack and its monumental impact that you probably never knew or learned in history class at school. I found the 20 minute movie to be especially powerful, graphic, touching, and well-done. On Veteran's Day and Memorial Day, we should certainly think of and remember these numerous individuals. read more

Beautiful place to learn some history!! Free tickets to USS Arizona and a lot more to explore. read more

Pearl Harbor - Snacks and USS bowfin - Visitor Centers Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii